The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-31
AMPUTATING A BABY'S LEG.
The Youngest Child Upon Whom the
Operation Has Yer Been Performed.
From the New York Tribune.

From the NeW York Tribune.
Dr. Henry B. Sands performed two inter
esting operations recently at the Roosevelt
Hospital He was assisted by Drs Hall,
Hartley, Huntington and Tuttle and the
surgical staff of the hospital. Over 100
medical students and practitioners were
present.
Dr. Sands entered the amphitheatre clad
in long black gown, reach 'ng nearly to
the floor, over which was a white operating
gown. He was followed by his assistants
and stretcher, carried by two of tie hos
pital orderlies, upon which lay little girl of
four and half years. After the child was
placed upon the table, the doctor turned to
the students and said .'The case before you
is very marked example of genu-ralgum,
or knock-knee. There is no history of
ricketts,, and yet the interference between
the knees is so great as to make walking
difficult
The doctor then called upon DR. Hartley
TO operate upon the case. Taking a scalpel,
DIR. Hartley made an incision three inches
long, running up the leg, just above the
knee Then taking a chisel and mallet, he
cut a small, wedge-shaped piece from the
bone, after which, the leg was easily brought
into line. The wound was then dressed with
antiseptic gauze, and the leg placed upon
the hard rubber splints, and cased in plas-
ter of paris dressing.
1.-THE next is curious case,n said the doc
tor, las it involves amputat.on of the leg in
a child only eight months old. The child
was brought to me some weeks ago, with
what thought was tubercuiar swelling
ON the leg, just in front of and below the
knee sent the case TO DIR. Hartley, in the
the out-patient department for treatment
After examining the case, he came to the
conclusion that the swelling was cancerous.
DR.. Hartley then sent small portion of the
growth to DIR. Roosevelt, the pathologist Of
the hospital. who pronounced it sarcoma
After gaining the mothers consent to do as
| thought best, decided to operate, prom
ising to save the leg if possible. The childs
life IS at stake, and must do what l can to
save il from further invasion of the dis
ease"
The child was they carried in by nurse,
placed on the table, where an assistant adj
ministered ether to IT, As soon as it had be-
come unconscious, the doctor carefully ex-
amined the swelling.
'This ulcer" said he, appeared sudden
ly four months aftes birth. think there
is little hope of saving the leg" Taking
swelling, which he examined with great
care. "The tumor extends deep into the
tissues and appears TO be sub-periosteal,"
said he Taking knife. he amputated the
leg about two inches above the knee, and
after carefully tying the arteries with cat
gut ligatnres, he sewed the two sides to-
gether. "This is the youngest child upon
whom have performed the operation of
amputation," said the doctor. II am sure
the child will ge5 well. y
The next case was that of a boy eight
years old, who three years ago swallowed
some strong lye. Two years ago he was
rought to the hospital suffering from strict
ure Of the asophagus. He was unable to
eat, and was slowly starving TO death. BY
the use OF esophagical sou DIS the structure
was dilated and last summer the structure
was cut by Dr. Hartley. After gauging
the size Of the structure by means Of differ
ent sized bougies, DR.. Sands introduced an
instrument carrying concealed kife, and
diviaed the structure The boy WINGED, but
did not seem to mind the operation much.